It was Hollywood Moments at the Pattaya City Expats Club meeting on Sunday, April 14. Several brave souls ventured out on this Songkran day to see member David Garmaise’s video presentation. David’s hobby is taking video clips from various movies and other sources and creating an interesting and entertaining video of his own. David has frequently shared his productions with the Club, which are always enjoyable and well received; especially his commentary about behind the scenes events surrounding the movie.
Dame Helen Mirren, the actress, did such a convincing portrayal of Queen Elisabeth II in the movie “The Queen” that by the end of the shooting for the movie, the crew would stand at attention and fold their hands behind their backs whenever they were in her presence. This was one of the many anecdotes related by David in his presentation. David presented clips from a half-dozen or so movies – all involving comedy and music which, he said, was in keeping with the spirit of Songkran.
Board member David Garmaise introduces another of his popular “Hollywood Moments” presentations, sharing his hobby as a film buff with other PCEC members and guests. David gives interesting anecdotes and the background of selected clips, from various films.
In the movie “Bruce Almighty,” God, played by Morgan Freeman, tries to keep Bruce, played by Jim Carrey, on the straight and narrow. David recounted how the movie was initially banned in Malaysia and Egypt because of pressure from religious Islamic groups that objected to the fact that God was portrayed as an ordinary man.
In that same movie, God would occasionally call Bruce on his cell phone. The number “555-0123” was flashed on the screen. The exchange “555” is the one that movie producers in North America usually use to avoid any conflict with a “real” exchange. But, David explained, in the original movie the number shown had a “716” exchange. That exchange was not being used in Buffalo, New York, where the movie was shot, so the producers thought they were safe. But the 716 exchange was in use in other parts of the U.S. The hundreds of people who received calls from people who wanted to talk to God were not amused. The exchange was altered to “555” in the home video and TV releases of the movie.
David showed a clip from Top Gun, an action film from 1986, showing Tom Cruise trying to pick up a woman in a bar by singing “Lost That Lovin’ Feeling,” a 1964 hit from the Righteous Brothers. David showed two other clips involving pop songs: A scene in a restaurant in “My Best Friend’s Wedding” where one table, and eventually the entire restaurant, sing a rollicking version of “Say a Little Prayer for Me,” originally popularized by Dionne Warwick; and the concluding scene from Notting Hill, featuring the song “She,” performed by Elvis Costello. The other films included in David’s montage were “History of the World, Part 1,” “When Harry Met Sally,” “A Touch of Class” and “Witches of Eastwick.”
For more information about the many activities of the Pattaya City Expats Club, visit their website at www.pattayacityexpatsclub.com.
In the movie “Bruce Almighty,” God, played by Morgan Freeman, tries to keep Bruce, played by Jim Carrey, on the straight and narrow.
Tom Cruise in the role of Maverick in the 1986 movie “Top Gun.”
Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal, stars of the 1989 movie “When Harry Met Sally.” This is the famous fake orgasm scene in a New York deli, which culminates with another restaurant patron pointing to Meg and ordering “I’ll have what she’s having.”
Jack Nicholson and his female co-stars, Cher, Susan Sarandon and Michelle Pfeiffer, in the 1987 movie “Witches of Eastwick.”
Julia Roberts and Rupert Everett in the 1997 romantic comedy “My Best Friend’s Wedding.”
Hugh Grant in the 1999 romantic comedy “Notting Hill.”
